The same day that Lot went out of Sodom, fire came down from the sky and destroyed the sinners. The same day that the saints are carried up to the Lord, judgment will rain down from the sky and destroy the sinners.

For when they shall say, Peace and safety; then sudden destruction cometh upon them, as travail upon a woman with child; and they shall not escape. (I Thessalonians 5:3)

For as in the days that were before the flood they were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, until the day that Noe entered into the ark, And knew not until the flood came, and took them all away; so shall also the coming [parousia ] of the Son of man be. (Matthew 24:39)

First Thessalonians 5:3 (above) obviously is referring back to First Thessalonians 4:13-17. There shall not be a period of time between the calling up of the saints to the Commander in Chief and the falling of the wrath of God upon the world. "In the same day that Lot went out of Sodom . . . ."

Who shall be punished with everlasting destruction from the presence of the Lord, and from the glory of his power; (II Thessalonians 1:9)

When the Lord returns, those who have believed and been baptized shall be saved. But those who have rejected the Gospel of the Lord Jesus, especially those who have harmed His witnesses, shall "be punished with everlasting destruction from the presence of the Lord." What it means to be punished with "everlasting destruction" we do not know. However, we know the saints will find rest at the return of the Lord while the wicked shall receive back far more pain than they ever were able to cause the believers.

And this shall be the plague wherewith the Lord will smite all the people that have fought against Jerusalem; Their flesh shall consume away while they stand upon their feet, and their eyes shall consume away in their holes, and their tongue shall consume away in their mouth. (Zechariah 14:12)

Those who persecute the saints of the Lord or even refuse to assist His witnesses, His brothers, will be cast into the eternal fire.

Then shall he say also unto them on the left hand, Depart from me, ye cursed, into everlasting fire, prepared for the devil and his angels: (Matthew 25:41)

When he shall come to be glorified in his saints, and to be admired in all them that believe (because our testimony among you was believed) in that day. (II Thessalonians 1:10)

When the Lord returns He will be glorified in His saints. We shall be revealed together with Him and share His glory. His coming will not be a secret but as the lightning shining from east to west. The "lightning" is the Glory of God that will be revealed in His saints.

The nations of saved peoples of the earth will come to the saints for life and healing. Just as no person can come to the Father except through the Lord Jesus, so it will be true that none of the nations of the saved will be able to approach the Lord Jesus, and the Father through Him, except through the saints. In that day the saints will be one in the Son and the Father. The Glory of the Lord Jesus will be given to the saints, and the world will understand that the Father loves the Church as He loves His Firstborn Son. Then the world will believe the Father indeed has sent the Lord Jesus Christ.

To be continued.